
A young Wall Street genius lands in the Costa Rican jungle with a vast fortune and visions of paradise - but ends up in hell. He and his wife build a spectacular circular mansion deep in the rainforest - a sanctuary for themselves and for endangered wildlife. But sinister forces soon have the couple fearing for their lives. As paranoia takes root and shadows close in, the troubled pair steadily lo... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 19 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | True Crime | ||||

For decades, João Teixeira de Faria — known as John of God — was revered as a spiritual healer who claimed to perform miraculous surgeries without anesthesia. Desperate people from around the world traveled to Brazil, believing he could cure what doc... more
Ann contemplates leaving Costa Rica forever. A drug bust and a prison visit lead to speculation about the Benders’ former head of security and his role in events. Everyone drawn into the couple’s orbit reflects on this shocking story. The final chapt... more
The second trial concludes with a verdict that stuns Costa Rica. Ann Bender adjusts to a completely new way of life as a terrible tragedy shatters her world further. Meanwhile, public opinion dramatically shifts. A second trial is granted, the defenc... more
John Bender’s death soon becomes a cause celebre. But the woman at the centre of police suspicion is now the hospital. Ann’s psychiatrist is shocked at her physical and mental state. As the full story of the Benders’ isolation unfolds, prosecutors ma... more
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I wasn’t bothered by the music, as others have commented. But, I noticed on a couple of occasions that the host had clearly dubbed in her reactions to an interviewees answers. I’m also convinced that one of the people they spoke to was voiced by AI. It just leaves me feeling a bit cheated to be honest. With all that said, I still enjoyed the story.
The podcast is great and I will always listen to everything Becky Milligan does, but the advertising is ridiculous. Every few minutes you have to take a break for 3,5 minutes or more. That’s a big no for me.
The loud screech really ruins a great podcast, if everyone is in agreement why not change it?
A dynamic retelling of an interesting case. The host is a little try-hard with the drama, but it is well written and engaging. One star is lost simply because the podcast music is screechingly jarring and really spoils it.
Please, please get rid of that awful music! As much as I wanted to finish the series, I couldn’t and found myself googling the story because the music is so painful!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #126 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #149 | |
Apple Podcasts | #185 | |
Apple Podcasts | #50 |
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A gripping narrative unfolds surrounding the tumultuous life of John and Ann Bender, a wealthy couple who abandon their high-powered careers on Wall Street to start anew in Costa Rica. Their dream evolves into a nightmare as they build a magnificent mansion surrounded by the rainforest, but they soon find themselves engulfed by paranoia and violent circumstances, culminating in John's mysterious death and subsequent murder trials. The series captures the stark contrasts of their extravagant lifestyle juxtaposed with their descent into chaos, exposing layers of emotional turmoil, legal battles, and community intrigue that question the nature of truth and justice amidst unrelenting fears of betrayal and isolation from their neighbors.
This ... more
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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 19 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on this podcast include:
1. Carol Vaughan
2. Greg Fisher
3. Ken Bender
4. Carole Vaughan
5. Dr. Lizano
6. Ken Patton
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